HI, I'M CAMERON
I'm a travel writer and photographer based in Seattle, USA. Since 2000, I've worked at Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. — a guidebook publisher, public television and radio producer, and tour operator based in Edmonds, Washington.
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I was born in Denver and grew up in Central Ohio, where I graduated with a B.A. (English and German Studies) at Ohio Wesleyan University. After college I went on a backpacking trip across Europe, discovered a passion for travel, and got a job at Rick Steves' Europe.
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At Rick Steves' Europe — one of North America's most respected European travel authorities — I've worn many different hats. I started in the Travel Center (retail store and travel advising), coordinated our speakers' bureau, and trained as a tour guide. Soon I shifted into our guidebook department, where I spent 12 years editing America's bestselling guidebook series. I currently serve as the Content and Editorial Director.
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Since 2001, I have spent about 100 days each year in Europe. Most of my time is devoted to researching, updating, and writing material for guidebooks. I co-author our guidebooks on Central Europe (first edition 2004, now in its 11th edition), Croatia & Slovenia (first edition 2007, now in its 10th edition) and Budapest (first edition 2008, now in its 7th edition). While I specialize in Central and Eastern Europe, I am also a generalist: I have updated or contributed to virtually every Rick Steves guidebook title (in more than 40 different countries). I was a primary contributor to new editions of books on Iceland, Scotland, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Berlin, Istanbul, our various phrase books, and books on cruising both in the Mediterranean and in Scandinavia and Northern Europe.
As I travel, I always have my camera in hand. My photographs have appeared throughout the Rick Steves' Europe guidebook series, website, and marketing materials. (These days, I shoot with a Sony a1.)
Travel break! My favorite country is Slovenia, my favorite big cities are Budapest and London, and my favorite smaller cities include Ljubljana and Sarajevo. I believe Hungarian is the most underrated cuisine in Europe, Vigeland Park in Oslo is the best work of art in Europe, and the three most beautiful places on earth are Norway’s Lofoten Islands, Slovenia's Julian Alps, and the Oregon Coast. The best vacation I ever had in Europe is a tie between the Christmas I spent in the Swiss Alps and the Thanksgiving week I spent at an agriturismo in Tuscany's Val d'Orica.
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In addition to my guidebook work, I have also worked as a tour guide, leading Rick Steves' Europe tours in Eastern Europe, Best of the Adriatic, and Poland.
In the home office, in my role as Content and Editorial Director for Rick Steves' Europe, I oversee our many channels of content. I also contribute to the public television series, Rick Steves' Europe (including co-writing and field producing several episodes); appear on the public radio series, Travel with Rick Steves (as a frequent interview guest and as a featured essayist); present a wide variety of travel talks to audiences both live and virtual; and serve as the primary editor (and, often, ghostwriter) for many of Rick Steves' personal writings.
In 2015, I started a blog of my personal writings and photography, which is hosted at Ricksteves.com and excerpted on this website. My story A Visit to Chernobyl: Travel in the Postapocalypse was anthologized in The Best American Travel Writing 2019.
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I am also active on social media, with more than 50,000 highly engaged followers on Facebook (@HewittCameron), plus over 6,000 on Instagram (@travelwithcameron). Multiple posts have hit over 1 million views (with my top post peaking at 9 million views and over 150,000 likes); in 2025, my total post views on Facebook exceeded 6 million (entirely organic; I've never paid a dime for boosting or advertising).
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In early 2022, I published a travel memoir (with Travelers' Tales). The Temporary European: Lessons and Confessions of a Professional Traveler collects my favorite travel stories from 25 years of exploring Europe, from my semester abroad in Salamanca, Spain, to the present day. I zip readers into my rucksack and introduce them to my favorite European places, people, and experiences: Alma, who explains how Bosnian coffee isn't just a drink, it's a social ritual. Luciano, the old farmer who shows up each evening at the agriturismo, knocking on doors and offering homemade grappa. Mathilde, who explains that the true mastery of a French fromager isn't making cheese, but aging it. Roberto, a Tuscan who feels tremendous generational pressure to create a beautiful life. And many others.
Along the way, I offer behind-the-scenes insights into the work of a professional traveler: writing guidebooks, leading tours, producing TV shows, and working with a living legend and his merry band of travelers.
That's about it. Take a look around my site. Enjoy my photos and a few excerpts from my blog. To learn more about what I do, you can check out my CV, find me on LinkedIn, or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram.
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Happy Travels!